Abstract: An operating system for a retractable covering for an architectural opening having at least a movable bottom rail and possibly a movable middle rail connected to a shade material includes control or guide cords extending from a head-rail for the covering to the bottom rail and extending through the middle rail. Manually operable locks are provided on the bottom rail and the middle rail to grip the cords as they extend therethrough and a take-up system is provided in the bottom rail that is biased so as to retain the cords in a taut condition during movement of the bottom rail or the middle rail. The bottom and middle rails are moved manually simply by manually releasing the manual locks provided thereon so that exposed control cords are alleviated.

Abstract: An operating system for a retractable covering for an architectural opening having at least a movable bottom rail and possibly a movable middle rail connected to a shade material includes control or guide cords extending from a head-rail for the covering to the bottom rail and extending through the middle rail. Manually operable locks are provided on the bottom rail and the middle rail to grip the cords as they extend therethrough and a take-up system is provided in the bottom rail that is biased so as to retain the cords in a taut condition during movement of the bottom rail or the middle rail. The bottom and middle rails are moved manually simply by manually releasing the manual locks provided thereon so that exposed control cords are alleviated.

Abstract: An apparatus for stitching a fabric and/or attaching guide rings to the fabric for possible use in a covering for an architectural opening includes a lift bar to which a top edge of the fabric is connected so the fabric can hang into an underlying housing where a plurality of individually operated clamps are positioned. The clamps can manipulate the fabric as the lift bar is raised or lowered while horizontal tucks are formed in the fabric with a reciprocating tucker blade. A pair of traversing sewing machines are used to stitch a tuck and/or attach guide rings to the tuck in an automated operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming fabrics for use, by way of example, in coverings for architectural openings includes a system for handling single or multi-layered fabrics by suspending the fabric from a lift tower, threading the fabric through various clamp systems within a housing for the apparatus, and subsequently forming horizontal rows of hobbles, tunnels, and/or attached rings by gripping and releasing the fabric with a vacuum clamp, upper and lower clamps, and a tucker blade clamp while a reciprocating tucker blade forms horizontal tucks in the fabric. Hobbles can also be formed in one layer of the fabric through use of the vacuum clamp which gathers a portion of one layer of the fabric while the other layer is handled differently. In doing so, hobbles are formed between tucks in the fabric with the hobbles establishing a fabric resembling a Roman shade.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming fabrics for use in coverings for architectural openings includes a system for handling single or multi-layered fabrics by suspending the fabric from a lift tower, threading the fabric through various clamp systems, and subsequently forming horizontal rows of hobbles, tunnels, and/or attached rings by gripping and releasing the fabric with a vacuum clamp, upper and lower clamps, and a tucker blade clamp while a reciprocating tucker blade forms horizontal tucks in the fabric. The tucks are selectively treated by forming a tunnel or attaching guide rings. Hobbles can also be formed in one layer of the fabric through use of the vacuum clamp which gathers a portion of one layer of the fabric while the other layer is handled differently. In doing so, hobbles are formed between tucks in the fabric with the hobbles establishing a fabric resembling a Roman shade.

Abstract: An apparatus for stitching a fabric and/or attaching guide rings to the fabric for possible use in a covering for an architectural opening includes a lift bar to which a top edge of the fabric is connected so the fabric can hang into an underlying housing where a plurality of individually operated clamps are positioned. The clamps can manipulate the fabric as the lift bar is raised or lowered while horizontal tucks are formed in the fabric with a reciprocating tucker blade. A pair of traversing sewing machines are used to stitch and/or attach guide rings to the tuck in an automated operation. After all operations are complete on a tuck, the fabric is raised a predetermined amount so that a repeated operation can be applied to the fabric at a predetermined distance below the first operation where by the fabric can be provided with rows of tucks forming tunnels to which guide rings are attached.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming fabrics for use, by way of example, in coverings for architectural openings includes a system for handling single or multi-layered fabrics by suspending the fabric from a lift tower, threading the fabric through various clamp systems within a housing for the apparatus, and subsequently forming horizontal rows of hobbles, tunnels, and/or attached rings by gripping and releasing the fabric with a vacuum clamp, upper and lower clamps, and a tucker blade clamp while a reciprocating tucker blade forms horizontal tucks in the fabric. The tucks which are selectively treated by forming a tunnel or attaching guide rings. Hobbles can also be formed in one layer of the fabric through use of the vacuum clamp which gathers a portion of one layer of the fabric while the other layer is handled differently. In doing so, hobbles are formed between tucks in the fabric with the hobbles establishing a fabric resembling a Roman shade.